Portable diving platform

ABSTRACT

A platform ( 1 ) for diving to replace dangerous diving boards is supported by a first-side wall ( 2 ), a second-side wall ( 3 ), a rear wall ( 4 ) and a brace. The brace can include a pillar ( 6 ) or a first angled brace ( 11 ) in combination with a second angled brace ( 12 ). The rear wall can include steps ( 13 ). Poolside-structure support can include poolside-ladder rails ( 5 ) for lateral support of the platform or poolside surfaces without poolside ladders or without poolside ladders that are suitable. Optionally heavy-weight and light-weight embodiments and their manufacture with a wide range of sizes are described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to portable poolside diving platforms to substitute for or to supplement diving boards.

[0002] Diving boards for residential swimming pools have resulted in such high legal liability costs and injury problems that they are not being installed with swimming pools as much as previously. Pool contractors are becoming hesitant or refuse to install them. Children using residential swimming pools, however, often desire some form of diving or splashing structure in addition to pool slides. Hitting water from at least a modest height is a particularly desirable aspect of swimming.

[0003] There is no known poolside diving platform which is easily portable and safe in a manner taught by this invention.

[0004] Examples of most-closely related known but different devices are described in the following patent documents: Patent No. (U.S. unless stated otherwise) Inventor Issue Date DE 2,301,379 Jul. 18, 1974 4,666,147 Warman May 19, 1987 3,809,392 Kral, Jr. May 07, 1974 4,780,085 Malone Oct. 25, 1988 JP 9-51970 3,362,708 Densmore Jan. 09, 1968 DE 23 58 876 Feb. 13, 1975 5,660,013 Saldarelli, et al. Aug. 26, 1997 3,092,383 Dunn Jun. 04, 1963

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Objects of patentable novelty and utility taught by this invention are to provide a portable diving platform which is safe, designedly portable or permanent, inexpensive, adaptable to desired aesthetics and designedly high or low for diving from a pool side.

[0006] This invention accomplishes these and other objectives with a portable diving platform having support walls, bracing structure and poolside-structure support.

[0007] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] This invention is described by appended claims in relation to description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the following drawings which are explained briefly as follows:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of the portable diving platform having a platform resting on a top of a ladder rail internally from a first-side wall and a second-side wall at a side of a swimming pool;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a front view of the FIG. 1 illustration;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of the portable diving platform having a platform resting on a top of a poolside-ladder rail externally from the first-side wall and the second-side wall at the side of the swimming pool;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a front view of the FIG. 3 illustration;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway side view of the portable diving platform having a platform that is not resting on a top of a ladder rail that is internal from the first-side wall and the second-side wall at the side of the swimming pool;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a front view of the FIG. 5 illustration;

[0015]FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view of the portable diving platform having a platform that is not resting on a top of a poolside-ladder rail that is external from the first-side wall and the second-side wall at the side of the swimming pool;

[0016]FIG. 8 is a front view of the FIG. 7 illustration;

[0017]FIG. 9 is the FIG. 7 illustration with addition of stairs on a rear wall and a pool-edge hook;

[0018]FIG. 10 is a front view of the FIG. 9 illustration;

[0019]FIG. 11 is the FIG. 9 illustration with addition of extendable wheels and pool-edge hooks that are positional, but without the pool-side ladder rail;

[0020]FIG. 12 is a front view of the FIG. 11 illustration; and

[0021]FIG. 13 is the FIG. 11 illustration with additional steps for a higher platform and with the extendable wheels extended.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] Listed numerically below with reference to the drawings are terms used to describe features of this invention. These terms and numbers assigned to them designate the same features throughout this description.  1. Platform  2. First-side wall  3. Second-side wall  4. Rear wall  5. Poolside-ladder rail  6. Pillar  7. Ladder rung  8. Water line  9. Outward front edge 10. Inward front edge 11. First angled brace 12. Second angled brace 13. Step 14. Non-slip structure, 15. First pool-edge hook 16. Second pool-edge hook 17. Pool edge 18. First positional hook 19. Second positional hook 20. Front wall 21. First extendable wheel 22. Second extendable wheel 23. Handle apertures

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a platform 1 is positioned proximate a top of at least three support walls that include a first-side wall 2, a second-side wall 3 and a rear wall 4. A center brace is positioned intermediate a bottom surface of the platform 1 and a plane that is common to a plane of a bottom edge of the support walls. Poolside-structure support on the portable diving platform is provided for removably attaching the portable driving platform to poolside structure predeterminedly.

[0024] The poolside-structure support includes a predetermined poolside-ladder rail 5 which provides lateral support to the platform 1. The poolside-structure support includes a predetermined portion of a surface of the rear wall 4 for being positioned proximate a rear portion of the poolside-ladder rail 5. The poolside-structure support includes a predetermined portion of the first-side wall 2 for being positioned proximate a first-side portion of the poolside-ladder rail. The poolside-structure support includes also a predetermined portion of the second-side wall 3 for being positioned proximate a second-side portion of the poolside-ladder rail 5.

[0025] For this embodiment, the predetermined portion of the surface of the rear wall 4 is internal from the first-side wall 2 and internal from the second-side wall 3, such that the poolside-ladder rail 5 is positioned internally inside of the first-side wall 2 and the second-side wall 3. The predetermined portion of the first-side wall 2, therefore, includes an inside surface of the first-side wall 2 and the predetermined portion of the second-side wall 3 includes an inside surface of the second-side wall 3. A top edge of the first-side wall 2 is affixed to an edge of a first side of the platform 1 and a top edge of the second-side wall 3 is affixed to an edge of a second side of the platform 1.

[0026] Also for this embodiment and for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-6, the center brace includes a vertical member that can be a pillar 6.

[0027] This invention includes a selection of embodiments of a portable diving platform that are intended to make the best use possible of poolside structure for providing safe and convenient diving without a diving board. Some embodiments can be small and yet heavy and less movable. Others can have lighter construction for larger and higher sizes with minimal weight per size. The pillar 6 and related structure provide weight for positional sturdiness of smaller embodiments.

[0028] All embodiments are intended for use at deep portions of pools where there is usually a ladder that is represented by a single ladder rung 7 below a water line 8. The invention is intended for use with or without a poolside ladder rail 5 and with or without a poolside ladder. Use without a poolside ladder is depicted in FIGS. 11-13.

[0029] Preferably, the rear wall 4 includes a predetermined pool-ward incline intermediate the plane that is common to the plane of the bottom edges of the support walls and the rear edge of the platform 1. This provides structural integrity and counterbalance of weight of a diver on the platform 1.

[0030] The first-side wall 2 can include an outward front edge 9 that slants predeterminedly pool-ward for overhanging a bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall 2. The second-side wall 3 also can include the outward front edge 9 that slants predeterminedly pool-ward for overhanging a bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall 3. The platform 1 can include a front edge having a first side proximate a top of the front edge of the first-side wall, 2 and a second side proximate a top of the front edge of the second-side wall 3. The platform 1 front edge overhangs the bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall 2 and the bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall 3. The bottom surface of the platform 1 is articulated to rest on top surfaces of the poolside-ladder rails 5 which extend pool-ward predeterminedly.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 5-6, the first-side wall 2 can include an inward front edge 10 that slants predeterminedly rearward from the bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall 2. The second-side wall 3 can include the inward front edge 10 that slants predeterminedly rearward from the bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall 3. The platform 1 can include the platform front edge having the first side proximate the top of the front edge of the first-side wall 2 and the second side proximate a top of the front edge of the second-side wall 3. The platform front edge is rearward from the bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall 2 and from the bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall 3.

[0032] The bottom edge of the first-side wall 2, the bottom edge of the second-side wall 3 and the bottom edge of the rear wall 4 are articulated to rest on a common plane that includes poolside structure which does not include poolside-ladder rails 5 which are appropriate for providing lateral support for the side walls.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 3-4, the predetermined portion of the surface of the rear wall 4 which is included as poolside-structure support can be external from the first-side wall 2 and external from the second-side wall 3. The predetermined portion of the first-side wall 2 which is included as poolside-structure support can include an outside surface of the first-side wall 2. The predetermined portion of the second-side wall 3 which is included as poolside-structure support can include an outside surface of the second-side wall 3. A top edge of the first-side wall 2 is affixed to a bottom portion of a first side of the platform 1. A top edge of the second-side wall 3 is affixed to a bottom portion of a second side of the platform 1. The first side of the platform 1 extends outwardly from the top edge of the first-side wall 2 for allowing the bottom surface of the first side of the platform 1 to superimpose the first side of the poolside-ladder rail 5. The second side of the platform 1 extends outwardly from the top edge of the second-side wall 3 for allowing the bottom surface of the second side of the platform 1 to superimpose the second side of the poolside-ladder rail 5.

[0034] For this embodiment, the center brace can be a pair of angled braces which can include a first angled brace 11 extended intermediate a bottom surface of a center of the platform 1 and a bottom edge of the first-side wall 2 in combination with a second angled brace 12 extended intermediate the bottom surface of the center of the platform 1 and a bottom edge of the second-side wall 3. Angled braces can be used instead of the pillar 6 when the poolside-ladder rail 5 is positioned externally instead of internally. The angled braces can provide greater structural integrity per material weight if lightness is desired for particular preferences.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 9-13, the rear wall 4 of either embodiment can include at least one step 13 intermediate the plane that is common to the plane of the bottom edges of the support walls and a rear edge of the platform 1. Two steps 13 are shown in FIGS. 9-12 and four steps 13 are shown in FIG. 13. Arcuate steps on either side or wraparound steps on more than one side can be employed.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 11-13, at least a portion of the top surface of the platform 1 of either embodiment preferably includes non-slip structure 14 that can be rubberlike material.

[0037] At least one pool-edge hook can be positioned proximate a front of a bottom of the portable diving platform to counter push-off diving. As shown in FIGS. 9-10, the pool-edge hook can include a first pool-edge hook 15 positioned proximate a bottom-front corner of the first-side wall 2 and a second pool-edge hook 16 positioned proximate a bottom-front corner of the second-side wall 3. The first pool-edge hook 15 and the second pool-edge hook 16 are articulated to overhang a pool edge 17 for preventing rearward movement of the portable diving platform in reaction to push-off diving from the platform 1.

[0038] As shown,in FIGS. 11-13, the pool-edge hook can include positional hooks which are oriented upwardly without overhang of the pool edge 17 for non-use mode and are oriented downward with overhang of the pool edge 17 for use mode. A first positional hook 18 is positioned proximate a first side of a bottom-front corner of a front wall 20. A second positional hook 19 is positioned proximate a second side of a bottom-front corner of the front wall 20. The front wall 20 extends intermediate the first-side wall 2 and the second-side wall 3. The front wall 20 can be partially vertical and partly slanted as sown in FIGS. 11-12 or predeterminedly vertical as shown in FIG. 13.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 11-13, extendable wheels can be positioned predeterminedly proximate bottom edges of the first-side wall 2 and the second-side wall 3. The extendable wheels include a first extendable wheel 21 proximate the bottom edge of the first-side wall 2 and a second extendable wheel 22 proximate the bottom edge of the second-side wall 3. The extendable wheels are positioned preferably proximate a gravitational center intermediate a front edge and a rear edge of the portable diving platform. This allows a balanced-cart mobility as depicted in FIG. 13 for particularly large and heavy portable diving platforms.

[0040] Handle apertures 23 can be provided proximate top centers of the first-side wall 2 and the second-side wall 3 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

[0041] Weight can be a significant feature of this portable diving platform. Some users will prefer heavy weight regardless of size for rigidity. Other users will prefer light weight for portability in and out of storage and about a poolside. Mere thickness of material of construction can increase weight. Lightness, however, particularly for large and high portable diving platforms as shown in FIG. 13 can be constructed with resined fiberglass or preferably jute cloth, laid on over relatively thin plywood.

[0042] Jute cloth is preferred because of lighter weight per impact strength. Fiberglass has higher tensile strength that is not necessary and tends to break or crack more readily from normal use. The structure shown with horizontal panels on top of edges of vertical panels and with the angled braces 11 and 12 as shown and described provide high structural integrity. Asian jute holds resin better than Central American jute because it is usually cleaner. A ten-ounce weight of jute cloth, also known as burlap or hessian cloth is preferred. In the manufacturing process using either the preferred jute cloth or fiberglass, the panels should be lightly tacked or otherwise fastened together and then covered over with the jute or fiberglass and resined layer-by-layer. Two-to-four layers on each side of each panel of one-quarter-inch-to-one-half-inch rough plywood are adequate for most purposes. It is best to lay up entire units instead of joining them together as parts to the extent feasible. Corners should be reinforced with additional layers.

[0043] Resin coloring can be matched to most poolside aesthetics.

[0044] This is labor-intense manufacture that is particularly suited for Asia or South America. The same is true of whatever form of manufacture is employed for this type of product. Some parts of the U.S. also might be considered for economical manufacture.

[0045] A comprehensive portable diving platform and its manufacture to replace diving boards is provided by this invention.

[0046] A new and useful portable diving platform having been described, all such foreseeable modifications, adaptations, substitutions of equivalents, mathematical possibilities of combinations of parts, pluralities of parts, applications and forms thereof as described by the following claims and not precluded by prior art are included in this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable diving platform comprising: a platform positioned proximate a top of at least three support walls; the three support walls including a first-side wall, a second-side wall and a rear wall; a center brace intermediate a bottom surface of the platform and a plane that is common to a plane of a bottom edge of the support walls; and poolside-structure support on the portable diving platform for removably attaching the portable driving platform to poolside structure predeterminedly.
 2. The portable diving platform of claim 1 wherein: the poolside-structure support includes a predetermined portion of a surface of the rear wall for being positioned proximate a rear portion of the poolside-ladder rail; the poolside-structure support includes a predetermined portion of the first-side wall for being positioned proximate a first-side portion of the poolside-ladder rail; and the poolside-structure support includes a predetermined portion of the second-side wall for being positioned proximate a second-side portion of the poolside-ladder rail.
 3. The portable diving platform of claim 2 wherein: the predetermined portion of the surface of the rear wall is internal from the first-side wall and internal from the second-side wall; the predetermined portion of the first-side wall includes an inside surface of the first-side wall; the predetermined portion of the second-side wall includes an inside surface of the second-side wall; a top edge of the first-side wall is affixed to an edge of a first side of the platform; and a top edge of the second-side wall is affixed to an edge of a second side of the platform.
 4. The portable diving platform of claim 3 wherein: the center brace includes a vertical member.
 5. The portable diving platform of claim 4 wherein: the vertical member is a pillar.
 6. The portable diving platform of claim 3 wherein: the rear wall includes at least one step intermediate the plane that is common to the plane of the bottom edges of the support walls and a rear edge of the platform.
 7. The portable diving platform of claim 3 wherein: the rear wall includes a predetermined pool-ward incline intermediate the plane that is common to the plane of the bottom edges of the support walls and the rear edge of the platform.
 8. The portable diving platform of claim 3 wherein: the first-side wall includes an outward front edge that slants predeterminedly pool-ward for overhanging a bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall; the second-side wall includes an outward front edge that slants predeterminedly pool-ward for overhanging a bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall; the platform includes a platform front edge having a first side proximate a top of the front edge of the first-side wall; the platform front edge includes a second side proximate a top of the front edge of the second-side wall; the platform front edge overhangs the bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall; the platform front edge overhangs the bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall; and the bottom surface of the platform is articulated to rest on top surfaces of the ladder rails which extend pool-ward predeterminedly.
 9. The portable diving platform of claim 3 wherein: the first-side wall includes an inward front edge that slants predeterminedly rearward from the bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall; the second-side wall includes an inward front edge that slants predeterminedly rearward from the bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall; the platform includes the platform front edge having the first side proximate the top of the front edge of the first-side wall; the platform front edge includes the second side proximate a top of the front edge of the second-side wall; the platform front edge is rearward from the bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall; and the front edge of the platform is rearward from the bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall.
 10. The portable diving platform of claim 9 wherein: the bottom surface of the platform is articulated to rest on top surfaces of the ladder rails which do not extend pool-ward sufficiently for pool-ward support of the portable diving platform.
 11. The portable diving platform of claim 9 wherein: the bottom edge of the first-side wall, the bottom edge of the second-side wall and the bottom edge of the rear wall are articulated to rest on a common plane that includes poolside structure which does not include ladder rails which are appropriate for supporting the bottom surface of the platform.
 12. The portable diving platform of claim 2 wherein: the predetermined portion of the surface of the rear wall is external from the first-side wall and external from the second-side wall; the predetermined portion of the first-side wall includes an outside surface of the first-side wall; the predetermined portion of the second-side wall includes an outside surface of the second-side wall; a top edge of the first-side wall is affixed to a bottom portion of a first side of the platform; a top edge of the second-side wall is affixed to a bottom portion of a second side of the platform; the first side of the platform extends outwardly from the top edge of the first-side wall for allowing the bottom surface of the first side of the platform to superimpose the first side of the poolside-ladder rail; and the second side of the platform extends outwardly from the top edge of the second-side wall for allowing the bottom surface of the second side of the platform to superimpose the second side of the poolside-ladder rail.
 13. The portable diving platform of claim 12 wherein: the center brace includes a vertical member.
 14. The portable diving platform of claim 12 wherein: the center brace includes a first angled brace extended intermediate a bottom surface of a center of the platform and a bottom edge of the first-side wall in combination with a second angled brace extended intermediate the bottom surface of the center of the platform and a bottom edge of the second-side wall.
 15. The portable diving platform of claim 12 wherein: the rear wall includes at least one step intermediate the plane that is common to the plane of the bottom edges of the support walls and a rear edge of the platform.
 16. The portable diving platform of claim 12 wherein: the rear wall includes a predetermined pool-ward incline intermediate the plane that is common to the plane of the bottom edges of the support walls and the rear edge of the platform.
 17. The portable diving platform of claim 12 wherein: the first-side wall includes the front edge that slants predeterminedly pool-ward for overhanging the bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall; the second-side wall includes the front edge that slants predeterminedly pool-ward for overhanging the bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall; the platform includes the front edge having the first side proximate the top of the front edge of the first-side wall; the front edge of the platform includes the second side proximate the top of the front edge of the second-side wall; the front edge of the platform overhangs the bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall; the front edge of the platform overhangs the bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall; and the bottom surface of the platform is articulated to rest on top surfaces of the ladder rails which extend pool-ward predeterminedly.
 18. The portable diving platform of claim 12 wherein: the first-side wall includes the front edge that slants predeterminedly rearward from the bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall; the second-side wall includes the front edge that slants predeterminedly rearward from the bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall; the platform includes the front edge having the first side proximate the top of the front edge of the first-side wall; the front edge of the platform includes the second side proximate the top of the front edge of the second-side wall; the front edge of the platform is rearward from the bottom of the front edge of the first-side wall; and the front edge of the platform is rearward from the bottom of the front edge of the second-side wall.
 19. The portable diving platform of claim 18 wherein: the bottom surface of the platform is articulated to rest on top surfaces of the ladder rails which do not extend pool-ward sufficiently for pool-ward support of the portable diving platform.
 20. The portable diving platform of claim 18 wherein: the bottom edge of the first-side wall, the bottom edge of the second-side wall and the bottom edge of the rear wall are poolside-structure support which are articulated to rest on a poolside plane which is poolside structure to which the portable diving platform is removably attachable.
 21. The portable diving platform of claim 20 and further comprising: at least one pool-edge hook articulated and positioned for preventing rearward movement of the portable diving platform in reaction to push-off diving from the platform.
 22. The portable diving platform of claim 21 wherein: the pool-edge hook includes a first pool-edge hook and a second pool-edge hook; the first pool-edge hook is positioned proximate a bottom-front corner of the first-side wall; and the second pool-edge hook is positioned proximate a bottom-front corner of the second-side wall; the first pool-edge hook and the second pool-edge hook overhang a pool edge for preventing rearward movement of the portable diving platform in reaction to push-off diving from the -platform.
 23. The portable diving platform of claim 21 wherein: the pool-edge hook includes a first positional hook and a second positional hook which are positioned proximate a bottom of a front portion of a front wall intermediate the first-side wall and the second-side wall; the first positional hook and the second positional hook are pivotal downwardly to overhang the pool edge for use mode and are pivotal upwardly without overhang of the pool edge for non-use mode.
 24. The portable diving platform of claim 1 wherein: at least a portion of the top surface of the platform includes non-slip structure.
 25. A portable diving platform comprising: a platform positioned proximate a top of at least three support walls; the three support walls including a first-side wall, a top edge, a second-side wall and a rear wall; poolside-structure support that is positioned removably on poolside structure for positioning the portable diving platform removably proximate sides of pools; the poolside-structure support includes a bottom edge of the first-side wall, a bottom edge of the second-side wall and a bottom edge of the rear wall; the poolside structure includes a poolside plane on which the poolside-structure support is positioned removably; at least the rear wall being extended outwardly for lateral support; an overall width in proportion to height with structural integrity for supporting divers diving from the platform and children playing on the portable diving platform; and a center brace for supporting center weight on the platform and for angular bracing.
 26. The portable diving platform of claim 25 wherein: the rear wall includes at least one step intermediate the poolside-plane and a rear edge of the platform.
 27. The portable diving platform of claim 25 wherein: the center brace includes a first angled brace extended intermediate a bottom surface of a center of the platform and a bottom edge of the first-side wall in combination with a second angled brace extended intermediate the bottom surface of the center of the platform and a bottom edge of the second-side wall.
 28. The portable diving platform of claim 25 wherein: the first-side wall has a poolside edge which is slanted rearwardly intermediate a bottom front corner of the first-side wall and a front edge of the platform and the second-side wall has a poolside edge which is slanted rearwardly intermediate a bottom front corner of the second-side wall and a front edge of the platform.
 29. The portable diving platform of claim 25 and further comprising: a front-side wall for structural integrity and attachment of the positional hooks.
 30. The portable diving platform of claim 25 and further comprising: at least one pool-edge hook positioned proximate a front of a bottom of the portable diving platform.
 31. The portable diving platform of claim 30 wherein: the pool-edge hook includes a first positional hook and a second positional hook which are positioned proximate a bottom of a front portion of a front wall intermediate the first-side wall and the second-side wall; the first positional hook and the second positional hook are pivotal downwardly to overhang the pool edge for use mode and are pivotal upwardly without overhang of the pool edge for non-use mode.
 32. The portable diving platform of claim 25 wherein: at least a portion of the top surface of the platform includes non-slip structure.
 33. the portable diving platform of claim 25 and further comprising: extendable wheels positioned predeterminedly proximate bottom edges of the first-side wall and the second-side wall.
 34. The portable diving platform of claim 33 wherein: the extendable wheels include a first extendable wheel proximate the bottom edge of the first-side wall and a second extendable wheel proximate the bottom edge of the second-side wall; and the extendable wheels being positioned proximate a gravitational center intermediate a front edge and a rear edge of the portable diving platform.
 35. The portable diving platform of claim 1 and further comprising: extendable wheels positioned predeterminedly proximate bottom edges of the first-side wall and the second-side wall.
 36. The portable diving platform of claim 1 and further comprising: handle apertures proximate top centers of the first-side wall and the second-side wall. 